A Guide to Touring Yangzhou in March: The Best Travel Tips

Best time to visit The best time to visit Yangzhou is during the spring (March to May), when the weather is warm and the flowers are in full bloom, especially the cherry and plum blossoms at Slender West Lake, which are breathtaking. Autumn (September to November) also offers pleasant weather and golden ginkgo leaves, making it another great time to visit. Itinerary • One-day tour: Slender West Lake > Daming Temple > He Garden > Dongguan Street. Enter from the South Gate of Slender West Lake and visit Daming Temple on the way after leaving from the North Gate. • Two-day tour: • Day 1: Slender West Lake > Daming Temple > He Garden > Pishi Street. • Day 2: Grand Canal Museum > Geyuan Garden > Dongguan Street. • Three-day tour: • Day 1: Slender West Lake > He Garden > Grand Canal night cruise. • Day 2: Yangzhou Museum & Art Gallery > Grand Canal Museum > Sanwan Wetland Park. • Day 3: Siwang Pavilion > Wenchang Pavilion > Caiyi Street > Shi Kefa Memorial Hall > Geyuan Garden > Dongguan Street. Recommended attractions • Slender West Lake: The iconic attraction of Yangzhou, with a long and beautiful lake, pavilions, bridges, and flowing water along the bank. The Five Pavilion Bridge, Twenty-Four Bridge, White Pagoda, and other scenic spots are exquisite and elegant. • Geyuan Garden: One of the four famous gardens in China, known for its bamboo and rockery. The four seasons rockeries each have their own characteristics, and the garden is exquisitely designed. • He Garden: An outstanding representative of late Qing Dynasty garden architecture, known for its covered corridors and a combination of Chinese and Western architectural styles. • Dongguan Street: An important commercial district in the ancient city of Yangzhou, preserving a large number of ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, where you can taste Yangzhou fried rice, crab roe soup dumplings, and other local snacks. • Grand Canal Museum: Free admission but requires advance booking. The museum displays knowledge about the excavation, water transport, and trade of the Grand Canal. Recommended accommodations • City center (near Wenchang Pavilion): Convenient transportation, close to major attractions, and you can taste authentic snacks. • Near Geyuan Garden/He Garden/Dongguan Street: Full of the charm of Jiangnan water towns, with characteristic youth hostels and inns nearby. • Slender West Lake area: High-quality environment, with high-end hotels and hot spring resorts. Recommended food • Morning tea: Yangzhou morning tea is a specialty. It is recommended to visit affordable morning tea restaurants such as Delin Teahouse and Wuting Yin Chun Teahouse. • Lunch: Huaiyang cuisine is mild and balanced. It is recommended to visit restaurants such as Dachao Huai and Jing Laolao. • Dinner: You can taste snacks in Dongguan Street, Caiyi Street, and Pishi Street, or go to Guanchao Road, Shunda Road, and other places to experience the local atmosphere. Precautions • The traffic in the old city of Yangzhou is congested, so it is recommended to choose public transportation or walk. • Tickets for attractions and museum visits need to be booked in advance, especially during peak season. • Prices in Dongguan Street are relatively high, so you can compare prices before buying souvenirs. I hope this guide can help you better plan your trip to Yangzhou!